Electric vehicle turn indicator



Feb- 24, 1948- -P. A. PETERSON ET A1.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE TURN AINDICIDTOR Filed May ll, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Feb 24, 1948. P. A. PETERSON ET A1.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE TURN INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi1ed May 11, 1945Patented Feb. 24, 1948 OFFICE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TURN INDICATOR Peter A.Peterson and Herman Siebert, South St. Paul, Minn.

Application May 11, 1945, Serial No. 593,270

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to signals for vehicles particularly for use onautomobiles or other motor vehicles driven on streets and highways.

The object of the invention is to provide a direction indicating signalfor use on an automotive vehicle to denote the intention of the driverof the vehicle with regard to turning either to the right or left or ofstopping or reducing his speed for the benefit and instruction of thedriver lof Aa following or oncoming or approaching vehicle with thegeneral purpose of preventing or minimizing accidents due to collisions,and in that connection to provide a device for this purpose which can becontrolled and operated by the driver of the vehicle withoutnecessitating the removal of his left hand from the steering wheel orcontrolling levers or other instrumentalities which are essential to thedriving and control of the vehicle for the purpose of extending the sameoutwardly to eiect a manual signalling by hand- In carrying out theinvention, an indicator member preferably in the form of a hand isprovided with extensible means for projecting the indicator out beyondthe side of the vehicle into such a position as to be readily seen fromboth iront and back. The projecting or extending means may be attachedto any suitable part of the vehicle body preferably the cowl and isoperated by a motor driven mechanism controlled by the operator of thevehicle. To be clearly visible at night, the indicator is provided withan electric light so positioned as to cast its light on both sides ofthe indicator to make it plainly observable irom either direction.

With the foregoing and other -objects in View, the invention resides inthe novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details oiconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchanges in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein in the drawings- Fig. 1 is an elevationalview of the signalling apparatus in inoperative position mounted on avehicle body.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the extension means of the signallingapparatus shown in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the mounting of the extension means onan extending rod or bar and the spring return arrangement for theextension means.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the switch control box showingdetails of the operating mechanism.

gCl. 177-327) Fig, 5 is a cross-sectional View through the switchcontrol box taken on line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view taken on line 6 6, Fig, 4, showing locking meansfor the extending rod.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View through the lamp housing, supportinglenses, and light bulb therein, taken on line -Jl, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing it denotes a portion of the body wall of anautomobile or other vehicle preferably at the cowl portion to which isattached on the inside thereof a switch control box Il having integraltherewith a guide sleeve i2 terminating in a bracket I3. On the outerside of the body wall l0 there is provided a supporting bracket lli,L-shaped in form, having a laterally extending wall I5 and an attachingwall i5. The brackets i4 and I3 are arranged in opposed relation and areattached to the body wall l by bolts Il.

Mounted for reciprocating movement in the guide sleeve l2 of the switchcontrol box ii is an extending rod or bar 2e, the inner end of whichextends within said box while the outer end thereof projects outwardlythrough suitable openings in the body wall lil and attaching wall iS ofthe supporting bracket lll, see Fig. 8. rl'he outer end of the bar 2i)is provided with a lateral extension 2l terminating in a flat eye 22 inwhich is mounted a pivot pin 23, which pivotally supports the crossedcentral portions oi the inner links Zd of a lazy-tongs linkage 25.Pivotally connected as at 26 to the outermost ends of the links 2li arethe ends of a, pair guiding and supporting links 2l which are arrangedin crossed reation and pivoted as at 28 to the central portion i9 of thesupporting bracket wall l5; the free ends of the links 2'! being adaptedto have bearing engagement with said supporting bracket wall i5 asclearly shown in Fig. 1. The arrangement `of the pivots 23 and 28 of thelazy-tongs 25 is such that they lie in the same horizontal plane.

Carried by the outer end of the lazy-tongs 25 is an indicator 3Q whichin this instance is represented as a hand formed of metal or any othersuitable material. The indicator Sii is placed on the same side of thelazy-tongs 25 as the bar 20 and is pivotally secured at its base to thecommon pivot 32 of the links 33 of the lazy-tongs 25 as clearly shown inFig. 2. Formed in the body-portion of the indicator hand 39 is acircular opening 34 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The outerends of the main links 33 are pivotally connected to end links 35 whichare in turn pivotally connected together as at 35.

A circular lamp housing 37 provided with a lens 38 on each side thereofand containing an electric light bulb (not shown) is provided with anarm 39 attached to the end pivot pin 36 in such a manner as to maintainthe lamp housing 31 in horizontal position at all times irrespective ofthe position of the lazy-tongs 25. The diameter of the lenses 38 is madesubstantially equal to the diameterof the opening 34 intheindicatorliand such that when saidindicator hand 3i) Vislormiglit intooperative position in the manner to be hereinafter described, theopening 34 and the lenses 38 of the lamp housing 3l Willgbe `Vinregistry, whereby when the light bulb Within the lamp housing l is litthe same will Vbevisibleatfthe center of the indicator hand 30 fromboth`sides thereof. Preferably the lensesS are madevoffred glass orother red colored transparent material so as to ash red when the lightbulb is lit.

The indicator hand '30 is formed at its lower end with a circular base'49, the pivot pin 32 mounting the same at its center to the lazy-tongs25. Formed in the periphery of the circular base dll-is a groove lll inwhich is positioned asmall tension coil spring 42, one end of Ywhichisf/astened to the top end of the grooveAas-atl43, Vsee Fig. 2, whilethe other end of the spring "4Z is fastened to an intermediate portionofa link 44 of the lazy-tongs as at 45. A flexible'cable 146 is attachedat one end to thespring connection :i5 and at its other end to apoint-in the bottom portion of the groove 4| as at 4l. Thus, with thelazy-tongs 25 in collapsed position, see Fig.1, the indicator hand 30 isupright and slightly inclined towards the vehicle bodywall l0. When thelazy-tongs 25 is extended by Virtue of outward movement of thebar 20 inthe manner/as will be hereinafter described, the extension of the linksof the lazy-tongs will cause the ilexible cable l5 to unwind andstraighten out and to thereby rotate the indicator hand 30 aboutvitspivot 32 into its horizontal operative position against the tension ofthe coil spring 42. Upon collapsing or inward movement of thelazy-tongs, the retraction of the tension coil spring 42v will rotatethe indicator handback to its uprightinoperative position in the nannerreadily f apparent.

The control and operating mechanism "for the lazy-tongs and light bulbis housed within the control box Il. The inner end of the reciprocatingbar 25 as shown in Fig. 4 is horizontally disposed adjacent the top ofthe controlbox :Il and is provided with a depending lug 50rigidlysecured to said bar adjacent its end. Positioned laterally of and inspaced relation to the barV 2l) is a worm wheel 5l of relatively largediameter supported on a shaft 52 the ends'of which'iare suitably mountedin bearings 53. A worm 54 meshes with the worm wheel 5|, said worm beingdriven by a iiexible drive shaft 55 connected to an electric motor 56and'supported in xed bearings 5l on each side of said worm. vTheelectric motor 56 is located exteriorly ofthe control box ll at anysuitable position inthe Vehicle.

Fitted on the face of the worm .gear '5| adjacent the bar 20 and innormal relation .thereto are a plurality of equally spaced pegs 58 eachrigidly secured to said worm gear and so Hpositioned thereon as toengage the lug 50 on the bar 25 when the latter is in its innermostposition as indicated by the dotted lines, 'see Fig. '4. Viewing Fig. 4,the worm gear 5l is driven counter-clockwise, so that, when a peg 58engagesithe lug 5o it will impart an outward axial movement to the bar25 to a point where the peg .clears the lug which is in the position ofthe partslshown in solid lines. This outward movement of the bar 25,byvirtue of its-connection'to Vthelazytongs 25 will extend the same to theposition thereof shown in Fig. 2. To reduce friction the pegs 58 may beprovided with rollers (not shown) adapted to engage the lug 50.

, 50 pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at ""l on a bracket 62attached to a wall of the con- ."trol .box ll. IThe end of the latch 60opposite the lug 50 is formed with a lateral shoulder S3ithetolteredge-of which is inclined as at 64, and

"theinnr edge 65 lying normal to the latch 60. V'2[hns,f-a.s .the.lug-50 engages the inclined edge 64 of the latch 65 -it will swing thesame counterclockwise about its pivot 6l, so that when the lug 50 clearsthe inclined edge 64, the latch 60 willbefforced backfunder. the actionof the spring `IGBT-whereby theedge 55'of1the shoulder 63. will engage.thelu'g 5i to hold the bar inposition. yReferring to Fig. l 2 itvv willbe-noted that va :tension EScoilsp'ring :3l is: positioned between thebar -2l) a'nciA lazy-.tongs'25- with its ends respectivelyconlne'ctedito'the; pivots 23. and 28, said spring acting 'asa-'returnmeans .for the bar 25 and lazy-tongs. Thelatchll, therefore,further acts toprevent inward movement of the bar V20 .under the action`of the return springll. When the latch 50 is releasedA in'the manner`to be hereinafter described, the spring 6l willact tofpull the bar-25backfand to collapse the lazy-tongs 25.

Disposed in avertical plane normal tothe .horirzontallplanefof'the latch60 is'a switch bar l5 lpivotally'mounted intermediate its ends for osycillating.movementon'a pivotpinll xedly attached to awall ofthe controlboxl l. The upper end of the` switch bar l5 `is provided with a singlecontactbar 'l2 adapted toengage adouble contactlbar 'i3 attached tothewall .of the control vbox,thet contact'bars l2 and "i3 'forming-in.effect a knife switch of the character wellknown. -A

conductor '14 connectsthe contact'bar l-3 with :one terminal of theelectriclight bulb x'i5 in the llamp .housing 3l, and .-a` conductor l5connects `therswitchbar (contact bar -12) to a battery .'l'l. `Theotherterminalof thebulb 375 is grounded .asiat-i8 inthe manner wellknown.

-Pivotally vconnectedby a pin andislot connection A8l) andSlfrespectively to -thearms of .the

switch bar `lil are the plungers-llZ vand 83 that project outwardly ofthe control box ll l. Preferably the control boxl is so positioned withyreference tothe dash 54 .that the plungers -82 and-'83 also nprojecttherethrough. .The dash 84 lis-'recessedas'at'65 -to receivefthe knobs86 provided on the endsof the plungers, whichfknobs are so. formed thatthey each will lie substanztiallyfflush with the .dash whenseated intheir respective recess. .The plungers 82, 83- are ofthe same length solthat when the plunger 83 is vpushed in, the plunger v82 will be vmovedout. Theupperarmofthe switch bar 'l5 .crosses the outer arm of thelatch'lll and-isadapted to engage the Lsame to -swing -thelatch 50clockwise so `as to effect a release of the latch with the lug 50 whenthe upper plunger83 is moved 'inwardly, see Fig. 6. This .movement willopen'the light switch T2, 13 andcause the signalling device to assumethe inoperative position s'hown in Fig. 1, in. the .manner .asdescribedhereinabove.

of the bell crank extends across the periphery of the worm wheel andisclosely adjacent thereto. A tension coil spring 95 is connected at oneend to the contact bar 92 and at its other end to a fixed pin 95 in deadcenter relation thereto, said spring acting to hold the contact bar 9i)in engagement with the contact bar 93 to close the switch or out ofengagement therewith to open the switch depending upon which way thebell crank 9i) is moved. A conductor 91 connects the battery ll tocontact bar 92, and a conductor 98 connects the contact bar 93 to oneterminal of the electric motor 5S, the other terminal being grounded.rihus, with the motor switch closed the motor will operate to drive theworm 5|, rotation of which will cause the bar 20 to move outwardly toplace the signalling apparatus in operative position as hereinabovedescribed.

On the lower end of the switch bar l@ there is hingedly attached as at99 an abutment it@ having a straight outer edge itil and a curved inneredge |02. With the motor switch closed and upon pushing the upperplunger 82 in, the AabutmentA |90 on the switch bar 'iii will freelyride over the end of the contact bar 92 which is preierably rounded.With the motor switch open, movement of the lower plunger S3 in, wilistart the signalling apparatus to function, as the edge ||l| of theabutment will engage the contact bar 92 to move the same to close theswitch which will start the motor 56 running.v

Provided on the face of the worm gear 5l cpposite to that carrying thepegs 59 are a plurality of trip pegs |95, each of right angle formationto provide a leg |56 normal to said worm gear face and rigidly attachedthereto and a leg iti disposed parallel to said worm gear face andextending radially outwardly with relation thereto. In the preferredconstruction shown there are'three pegs 58 disposed 120 apart on oneiace of the worm gear 5| and three trip pegs lilii also disposed 120apart on the other face oi the worm gear 5| but onset with relation tothe pegs 58-so that each trip peg is attached to the worm gear face at apoint midway between the points of attachment of the pegs 58, as clearlyshown in Fig. 4.

'lhe legs |01 of each of the trip pegs it is oi such a length as toextend across and engage the arm 94 of the bell crank motor switch 9G.Thus, referring to Fig. 5, when the motor switch is closed, the leg |07of a trip peg ii, moved by virtue of the rotation of the worm wheel 5i,will come to a point where it will engage the arm 94, continued movementcausing the bell crank 90 to rotate about its pivot to open the switchwhereby to stop the motor 55 and the rotation of the worm wheel 5|.Movement of the bell crank 9D beyond the dead center position oi thecoil spring 95 will cause said spring to exert its force on the bellcrank 90 to hold the same down. This operation of the motor switch issynchronized with the movement outwardly of the bar 20 by the peg 58, sothat when the peg 59 engaging the lug 59 clears the same, the lug 5dwill be engaged by the latch 50, and at this point a trip peg |05 willact to trip the bell crank 9d to open the motor switch, in the manner ashereinabove described.

From the above description it is apparent that the signalling apparatusis rendered operative by the operator of the vehicle simply pushing inthe lower plunger 83 which normally is out, causing both the lightswitch and motor switch to close. The motor will rotate the worm gearwhich in turn will move the extending bar outwardly to extend thelazy-tongs. Extension of the lazy-tongs will rotate the indicator handto its horizontal operative position. With the extending bar locked bythe latch the motor is shut off when the motor switch is tripped open byone oi the trip pegs. To restore the indicator apparatus to itsinoperative position, the operator has only to push in the upper plunger82 which movement will open the light switch and at the saine time willalso act on the latch to cause the latter to release the extending bar.Upon release of the extending bar, the same is retracted under theaction of the spring return which movement also collapses the lazy-tongsand swings the indicator hand back to its upright inoperative position.

Having thus described the invention what ls claimed is:

l. A signalling apparatus for vehicles comprising, a lazy-tongs, meansmounting the same exteriorly on a part of a vehicle body, a controlhousing mounted interiorly of said vehicle body in opposed relation tosaid mounting means, a bar slidably supported by said control housingand mounting means and connected at its outer end to said lazy-tongs toextend the same upon outward movement thereof, an indicator handpivotally mounted on the free end of said lazytongs, illuminating meansfor said indicator hand mounted on said lazy-tongs adjacent said freeend thereof, and power-operated means within said control housingconnected to said bar for moving the same outwardly, said indicator handbeing provided with an opening, means connecting said indicator hand toa link of said lazytongs, and operative upon extension of said lazytongsto swing said indicator hand from a normally upright inoperativeposition to a horizontal operative position when the lazy-tongs is fullyextended whereby to bring Said opening into registry with saidilluminating means so as to be visible from each side of said indicatorhand.

2. A signalling apparatus for vehicles comprising, a lazy-tongs, meansmounting the same exteriorly on a part oi a vehicle body, a controlhousing mounted interiorly of said vehicle body in opposed relation tosaid mounting means, a bar slidably supported by said control housingand mounting means and connected at its outer end to said lazy-tongs toextend the same upon outward movement thereof, an indicator handpivotally mounted on the free end or" said lazytongs, illuminating meansfor said indicator hand mounted on said lazy-tongs adjacent said freeend thereof, power-operated means within said control housing connectedto said bar for moving the same outwardly, means for locking said barupon a predetermined outward movement thereof, means operative upon saidpredetermined movement to render said power-operated means functionallyinoperative, means for releasing said locking means, and spring returnmeans connected to the outer end of said bar to retract the same andcollapse said lazy-tongs when said locking means is released, saidindicator hand being provided with an opening, a tension spring andflexible cable means connecting the base of said indicator hand to anintermediate link of said lazy-tongs and operative upon extension ofsaid lazy-tongs to swing said indicator hand from a normally uprightinoperative position to a horizontal operative position when thelazy-tongs is fully extended wheremesses? waaier-ing sain openirginto;registry iwithisaid `illuminatinglzneanssof'as to be l-visibleirom:ieaoh xAside Joflsaid indicator lhan'd,fsaid `'tei'ision springiandfie'xible eable means .being also aoperative fv to bringsaidlindicatorhand backto its :normal upright inoperative vlposition`when said locking -means 4is released andsaid lazy-',tongsliscollapsed.

3. Afsignallingfapparatiisfor vehicles lcomprising; a .lazy-tongs,l-'means mounting the same '.exf terio'rl'y 2 on fa part: of .a :vehiclefbody, a ycontrol 'housing -mountecl interioifly 4of I said`vehiclefbody -infopposed relation to -saidlmou'nting lmeans,ia

lbar "slidably supported `by 'said control housing vandmountin'g meansand-connected atL-itsouter AAendito said lazy-ton'gs'lto extend the same`,upon

'outward Amovement f thereof, an indicator hand pivotallylniounted onthe "free endfofisaid lazytongs, illuminatingmeansiiorfsaidindicatorhand mounted on said lazy-tongsadjacentsaidfreeend thereof, and spring return meansaconnected to said barto urgeV.thelsame inwardly, aworm wheel rotatably -l mounted in i said-Seontrol thousing; `a worm 'meshing' with-said' wormlwheel, dexibleshaft meansfconneeting said .worm to an 'electric motor, f aplurality-foi laterally viextending 'pegs xed Y'to-lone `face of saidVworm wheelf a depending lugf'xed to fsaid bar Jadjant the -innerfend'lthereof and arrangedtoliefinitiallyn vthe pathfoimovement-ioffsaid-ipegs whensaid .har is-in its-innermost position,so-thatassaid worm wheel vis Y'rotated 'fone 'of'v said ipegs wil1=engage -fsaid llug to impart anoutward movement ltossaid bar, 'said pegengagingsaid lug Ionlylduring a Y and imountingime'ansV"andconnected-I-at its outer `endv tosaid lazy-tongs Lto fextendlthe'fsame upon Youtward movement thereohan indicator hand pivotallymounted'on theliree endvoffsaid lazytongs, illuminating means for fsaidindicator4 hand mounted on Asaid lazy-tongs adjacent said free f endthereof, and springreturn-meanstconneoted to -said'barto urge thesameLinwardlmaf-worm Aa worm meshing Vvrwithsaid "worm wheel,A ffiexibleshaft means `connecting said iw'orm toLan electriomotor; a pluralityv oflaterally :extendingfpegs fixed to onet face of `said worm fwhee1,=-adep ending lu'g fixed to Said --bar Yadjacent the :inner "end 1J thereofland arranged to: lieinitially ine the pathxoi A-move'ment of said -pegswhen saidfbari'siniits innermost-position,- so that as Saidwormlwhe'elis rotated foneof A said pegs Will Yengage said lug toiimpartan!outwardfniovementto saidibar, -said -peg engaging saidlug `onlyduring fa predetermined yarcuate movement of said rworm wheel, and latch=means operative 'to engage said `lug -`to hold vsaid bar against inwardmovement by -said spring return 4means when "the:peg engaging said lugclears the same.

-5. A signalling apparatus for .vehiclesleomprising,`alazyYAtongs-fmeanslrnountingi the isa-me: eX-

teriorly on #a #part-0i :a1-vehicle body, a control housingmounte'dinteriorly of :saidvehiele body lwheel rotatably mountedinsaidcontrolhousing,1150

.is xintopposed#relation ntoxsaid :gmountingmeansg-a bar 1.s'lidabiy-@supported 'by s'aid-..contro1 housing land amounting means; and',connected -at itsbuter 4end :to ,f's'aidfllazytongs to I-eiztendftl'ie.same fupon outward. movement f-thereof, lian ,indica-tor, handApavotall'y m-ount-ed on thefree `end of .gsaidf lazy,--.=tongs,-il1uminating means-forf-fsaid indicator hand :mounted fronzsaid :lazy-tongs,r adjacent.; said `:free end i thereof, rand springreturn :means connected "to :said bar :tofurge the r same. inwardly, fa-worm wheel rotatabl'yf mounted in said control housiing, :aworm=meshing-Withsaidr'worm wheeLffiexl A.ible ishaft YAimea'ns VzonneetinglsaidWorm` to an f' electriofmoto'r, a Lplurality of flaterally extending l,pegs .xed to one'faee of saidwormwheelga'de- `:pending:,lugiiixedtosaidibar :adjacent the inner endthereof and tar-ranged sto -lie:initially lin the pathl ffmovementof saidspegs whensaid:-.bar is in itsinnermost position, so that las #said Worm vWheelisrotatedsone ofsaid-pegs will'engage :said lugto imparttanioutward vmovement .tosa-idvfbar, :saidlpeg engaging said lug onlywduringraf-,predevvterminedfarcuatemovement 'of saidworm wheel,- andilatch meansi operative a toengage :said lug ,to held, said barsagainsti inward movement by 'saidspring return means ywhen fthepeg engaging :said lugsclearsitheisame,said fcontrolie'housing including a motor switch f and :aKA separate-tlight ,switch Yfor, said illuminatingzmeans, a' switch-'barpivotsallymounted'intermediate its ends, -zagpair Vof -uppe'randflower plungers4each connected to an arm of said switch-bari.andslidablyesupportedIby`said housing, 'the `arrangement being -such `that y,when -ithe lower.plungen is ,pushed in i the :upper plun'ge'r .isipushed out, -means onthe uppery end '.of said switch bar operative to Close said vlightfvswitehfandsmeansson the lower endlof :said-switch bar adaptedltomove-themotor:switchinto closed position -when isaid Vswitchshardsvactuated by inlward .movement Lof theilower 'plunger whereby:said :signalling apparatus A:is `rendered functionally l r operative.

`:means nto reieaseith-e same wherebyl said` .bar :is

V'moved `inwardly Aunderlthe vaetionof the spring 'returnmeansrtofcollapse saidlaZy-tongs. .PETER ;A. PETERSON.-.HERMANfsIEBER-T.

The ffollow'ing references #are of recordl in .-the fiile "of thispatent:

'.UNI'IED STATES P /X'IENTS Number 4Name Date 1,299,361 :Lieberman IApr.11,. 1919 @1,369,998 v`'Wolter eiMar. 1, -1921 .1,452,681 =Eujimoto:etal. Apr. 24.1923 1,'4'12g186 A:Morris Y jOct. 3.0, 1923 11,557,064 Kerri Got. 13, 7.13923 v1,962,652 vGood June12,1934 ,2,084,984 Bedford etal.Junet29, 193'? 2,106,660 Ross Jan.v25, v1931i

